CLOUGH PRAISES STRIKER AFTER COMEBACK GOAL

NIGEL Clough says that Liam Boyce’s return from injury has been a boost for the whole club.

The Brewers record signing made his Championship debut on Saturday, coming off the bench to grab a goal in the 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa.

Nigel Clough praised the striker’s work ethic after making a remarkably quick return from an ACL injury picked up in pre-season and his attitude on the pitch at Villa Park.

The Brewers manager said: “He has given everybody a boost, not just himself, by playing those 20 minutes and getting a goal. Our supporters enjoyed seeing him out there and we certainly did.

“He’s not up to starting yet but we will get him on the bench and on the pitch when we can and keep building him up that way for the next couple of weeks.

“He’s taking part in every training session and doing extra afterwards. He’s getting closer and closer but it’s still early days and we have to be careful.”

Clough also praised Boyce’s reaction to his late goal at Villa Park.

“The majority of players these days would have run to the corner flag pointing at the name on the back of the shirt. He got the ball out of the back of the net and ran to the centre circle and we had another three and a half minutes at Aston Villa. That says as much about his character as anything.”